| Hakim Hayat |
BUILT upon nearly two decades of strong bilateral relations and partnership, fundamental interests between Brunei Darussalam and the United States of America will remain strong and constant, despite changes to the current administration, said Craig Allen, the United States (US) Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam, yesterday.
In what was described as a surprising outcome by many global citizens, real-estate mogul and former reality-TV star, Donald J Trump, claimed victory for the Republican Party in a close Presidential race, beating Democratic Party candidate Hillary Clinton.
“Brunei and the United States have had 171 years of really good partnership and excellent relations and that won’t change – that partnership has lasted dozens of American Presidents and indeed, generation after generation,” said Allen in an interview on the sidelines of the US Election Watch event hosted by the American Embassy in Brunei Darussalam yesterday morning at the Radisson Hotel, as American expatriates eagerly awaited the results of the much-anticipated Presidential election.
Allen adopted a neutral stance in his comments – which is a standard practice for the American Embassy on the issue of possible changes in foreign policy and direction – only saying that all would be made clear after the official transition of power from the Obama administration to a new one on January 20, 2017.
“After that, the new president will have an opportunity to appoint a Secretary of State, and at that stage, we will be able to see if the new administration has different priorities or the same one,” he said.
He said there are some constant and variables with the new transition. “On the variable side, we will have a new president and we may have new Secretary of State…so we are going to have to give that individual time and room to be able to determine what he or she wants to do,” he said, while also stressing that it was in their best interest to have firm and “unshakable” relations with Brunei.
Craig Allen, the United States (US) Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam speaking to the Borneo Bulletin.
Craig Allen adressing guests during the US Election Day Watch event.
Craig Allen in a photo with invited guests during the US Election Day Watch event held at the Radisson Hotel. – PHOTOS: HAKIM HAYAT
Guests following the live electoral results on a screen during the event.
When asked about whether the new American administration would implement the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal that the Obama administration has been pushing, Allen replied that it was too premature to comment on the issue at this juncture.
Throughout his presidential campaign, President-elect Trump was strongly opposed to the multilateral trade deal which aims to eliminate an array of barriers to commerce between its signatories.
Seven of the deal’s 12 signatories are countries from the Asia-Pacific region: Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, Brunei, Australia, and New Zealand. Final negotiations concluded in October 2015, with all signatories signing the pact, with ratification to take place at a later stage.
Until the transition of office on January 20, 2017, Allen said that he would still be carrying out directions under the current Obama administration. “I think Obama has spoken quite clearly on this [TPP], and that it is time to move the TPP to ratification,” he told the Bulletin.
Meanwhile, in a short address to invited guests, including American citizens and members of the Diplomatic Corps, Allen said that the American elections had highlighted a number of domestic and foreign policy issues that the next president has yet to address.
“But our system, regardless of who is in the White House, represents a country that moves forward every day, seeking to create a better nation than the one we grew up in.. seeking to better its relationships with friends and allies around the world…and wanting to help make the world a more peaceful and prosperous place for all.”
Allen also played down concerns from several countries that foreign policies might change with the new administration, saying that “regardless of the changes that will be seen in personnel or policy, we know our relationships with our friends around the world will continue to be of paramount importance. I am firm in my belief that our friendship with Brunei Darussalam will continue to thrive under the next administration, just as it has under President Obama.”
The US Ambassador also mentioned the constructive and warm relationship that the United States shares with the Brunei Government and its citizens. “Our joint efforts to build a greater mutual understanding between the people of the US and the people of Brunei will continue,” he said.
The post US-Brunei ties will remain constant despite a new president, says ambassador appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.